Helpful Score: 3
i always wondered about the life of conjoined people..about how they do things that we take for granted. this puts all those questions to rest.
the author actually makes you believe that they are seperate persons,with seperate lifes. a really interesting read
the author actually makes you believe that they are seperate persons,with seperate lifes. a really interesting read
Helpful Score: 3
I was expecting more of a historically accurate novel than I received - this is more of a book of fictional personal memories from ONE side of the "double-boy". Overall, an okay read. I didn't care for the time warping back and forth way the author presented this novel.
Helpful Score: 2
I enjoyed reading about how, in theory, these twins may have lived -- how they were treated in their small village in Siam, their visits with the King of Siam, their travel to America, marriage, fathering children ... although there are no complete records of every detail of their lives, the author has given a good approximation of how they might have lived, and provided a good story in the process. Recommended.
Very well written - a chapter by chapter, flash back and current style that really works as you see the two points converging. Told from Chang's viewpoint it's an interesting possiblity and mostly focuses on their marriage, and their early life in Siam.
Helpful Score: 1
Oh, what a bizarre book! These brothers go through so much in childhood-some even try to seperate them! And they marry sisters and have children! Just reading about how that was done was practically a whole other story in itself!
Helpful Score: 1
Awesome book really interesting. The way they lived with one wife in one house for a weeek then moved and lived with the others wife to his house for a week is a trip! They also fathered 17 children between them!
Helpful Score: 1
this book provided a really interesting fiction/non-fiction account of one of the most interesting pair of men to be born
A very insightful look into the lives of the famous siamese twins Chang and Eng. From their humble beginnings in their tiny village to their days with the P.T. Barnum circus side show. You will enjoy reading about their lives together, their marriages to two sisters and their children. Something never known before this book was that one of the brothers had a lifelong crush on the others wife!
This listing is a bit off - it's listed in Classics, thought it was published in 2001 (and, imho, is not quite a classic by means of sheer impressiveness), and I have no idea why it has a 5-digit ISBN.
It's a decent enough book, breezy, and of course heavily fictionalized (the brothers did not leave much by way of personal accounts behind); fun, but I'd hardly lump it in with Faulkner and Twain.
It's a decent enough book, breezy, and of course heavily fictionalized (the brothers did not leave much by way of personal accounts behind); fun, but I'd hardly lump it in with Faulkner and Twain.
While there is limited information about the actual lives of these amazing twins, the author does a great job of placing them into a historically accurate environment and inventing a likely account of their interesting lives. He deals with all of the physical and emotional challenges that Chang and Eng must have faced during their unique lives.
This book is a fictionalized account of the real life conjoined twins Chang and Eng Bunker who were born in the Kingdom of Siam in 1811. They were joined together at the chest by a seven inch long ligmament that contained part of their stomach, the only organ they shared. They had different personalities and needs, and different opinions on their unusual condition. Brought to America in 1825 by an unscrupulous promoter, Chang & Eng eventually married sisters, settled down and produced 21 children between the 2 of them.
This book is an interesting take on what Chang & Eng's lives might have been like.
This book is an interesting take on what Chang & Eng's lives might have been like.
Very interesting read.
Heart-warming story. So sad that they could have been separated today.
Very interesting bio of the celebrated "Siamese" twins. Includes photos and illustrations.
I was very excited to read this book as I have been fascinated by the original siamese twins since I was a child. What a disappointment! The author chose to write the book from the perspective of Eng, the stoic twin instead of from the viewpoint of Chang, the fun loving twin. I truly struggled not to bail on this book. I kept hoping it would improve. I told myself repeatedly "just 20 more pages, it must get better". I almost made it to page 100 before I bailed. I just could not relate to Eng's morose thinking. He appeared to enjoy nothing in his life even though he was at the Thai king's court, traveled the entire world, managed to marry a set of American sisters and fathered a huge brood. I felt that if the book has been written from the persepctive of Chang there would have been excitement and more insight into being attached to another person your entire life. I cannot recommend this book. It was just boring.
A great book.
Fictionalized account of the life of conjointed twins Chang and Eng in the 1800's. Fans of historical fiction would like this.
Fascinating account of life of Siamese twins.
